A preschool teacher pleaded guilty Monday to producing child pornography using several of his students.

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Police say James Manring, 54, filmed the sexual abuse of his five-year-old students while teaching in Japan. He also taught preschool in Bethesda prior to his arrest in November.

Manring filmed himself performing sexual acts on his students from 1996 to1999, police say. In 1999, he returned to the United States and brought DVDs containing the child pornography with him.

Police caught on to Manring during a national operation known as Operation Spade. From April 2010 and February 2011, Manring bought nearly 50 "naturist" videos for more than $2,000.

Manring could spend up to 40 years in prison if convicted.